Improvement in washing-machines



E. SMITH.

Washing-Machines. No, 137,494, Patented Apri'l1,1873.

i r I fla /afar,- 4 2k. /Z4% QM AM, PHOTO-UTI/OG/PAPIIIC ca. MY oseamslsPROCESS) UNITE-ii STATES PATENT QFFICE EDWIN SMITH, 0F WHITESTOWN, NEWYORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHINGMACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No- 137,494, dated April 1,1673; application filed December 20, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN SMITH, of Whitestown, in the county of Oneidaand State of New York, have invented certain Improvements inWashing-Machines, of which the following is a specification:

Nature and Object of my Intention.

My invention relates to an improvement in the manner of cleansingclothing; and consists principally in a simple arrangement of corrugatedor fluted rollers so combined as, when at rest, they will engage witheach other in a manner similar to the teeth of a spurwheel. Inconnection with this principal arrangement I combine an arrangement forsecuring the cleansing or squeezing device to the tub,

containing the usual proportion of Water and soap, or pure water andthis consists in forming a segment of a circle, which may be of wood orother suitable material, comically to suit the shape of the tub, so thatby pressing upon it a perfect bearing will be formed with the insidesurface of the tub to keep the machine in its place during the operationof the same.

Still another feature of my invention relates to the manner of holdingtogether the upper and lower corrugated orfluted rollers by an elasticstrap or spiral spring, so that the upper roller may accommodate itself,while in operation, to the garment being squeezed without its incurringthe rough usage that would be consequent with a rigid attachment.

Description of Drawing.

Figure l is a side elevation of my machine complete. Fig. 2 is an endelevation. Fig. 3

General Description.

The frame of the machine is composed of vertical end pieces A A, whichform stand ards to rest on the ground when not in use, or in the bottomof the tub when in service. The upper half of these :standards isbeveled and dovetailed-to accommodate the segmental pieces a which slipover them from the top until they form, with the said segmental pieces,perfect dovetail-joints to hold them firmly together. are held togetherby a bar, d, at the top, and a plate, f, below the rollers. Slots l lare formed in the standards opening out of the top, to receive thejournals of the upper roller. The lower roller 0 finds suitable fixedjournal-bearings in the standards A A while the upper roller e finds itsjournal-bearings in the loops g g, and play vertically as a larger orsmaller garment is passing through between the corrugated surfaces. 12 bare coiled springs, of metal, or straps of India-rubber tubing, whichare attached at their upper ends to the eyes 9 g, and at their lower totongues t t, which are held to the standards A A by the pins (1 cl. Acrank, K, witha suitable handle, is fixed in the upper roller, by whichsaid roller is revolved.

The operation of the machine is very simple. The garmentsto be cleansedare put through the usual boiling and soaping manipulations, and arethen taken in hand and held against the surfaces of the rollers whilethe crank is being turned by the operator. The garment is drawn in andsqueezed, and thereby relieved of the dirt. This operation may berepeated until the garments are thoroughly cleansed.

O lwim.

What I claim as new and my invention, and wish to secure by LettersPatent, is

The two rollers c 0, combined with frame A d f, the springs 12, andconical beveled segments or, all arranged as described, and for Thesestandards A A or end-pieces

